Tuesday, December 18, 2018

When I joined the original Washington State Energy Office in
1989, Tony was already a legend in Northwest energy conservation circles. He
had just convinced the Bonneville Power Administration to fund an Energy Ideas
Clearinghouse – a project he had conceived with other Energy Office staff to
provide a one-stop service for commercial energy consumers seeking advice on
how to use electricity more efficiently. Long after he moved on to other
projects and greater responsibilities, the clearinghouse flourished, attracting
funders including the U.S. Department of Energy, becoming national in its
coverage and a core of the Washington State University Energy Program.

Tony came to Olympia in 1985 from the Lawrence Berkeley Lab
in California, the foremost American research institution on energy efficiency.
He was a good fit for the dynamic and innovative Energy Office. Tony had a
passion for energy efficiency and clean energy as well as a sense of how the
office could be a leading edge of environmental policy.

A key to Tony’s success as a leader is that he is
extraordinarily disciplined and organized. To him,
effectiveness comes from organizing your own time, and that means spending as
little time as possible organizing the time of others. Anyone who has worked
with Tony knows that his first principle of managing people is to let them do
their jobs. He always tried to hire people who were the smartest, most
knowledgeable and willing and able to work on their own. These qualities
enabled him to have long runs as the Assistant Director for Energy, Energy
Office Director, and Special Assistant to the Director for Energy and Climate
Policy.

Tony understood early on that climate change would define
energy and environmental policy for the next century. He set out to become a
climate expert even as he managed energy efficiency programs. This climate
policy vision would stay with him throughout his career, and looking back, it
is hard to think of a climate change policy process that did not involve Tony.
Here is a sample: Western Climate Initiative? He was the Washington Energy
Office representative. Pacific Climate Partnership? He led the Washington staff
work for it. Western Interstate Energy Board? He was the Washington member for
20 years and held every executive board position including chair. Washington
state legislation and ballot measures? Tony worked with advocates, other state
agencies, and the governor’s office to marry sound science and policy with
political strategy. National Energy and Climate Policy? For many years Tony was
on the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Energy
Officials. He has given presentations at hundreds of meetings and conferences
around the country and abroad.

You would rarely read in the news media about Tony’s work.
As a colleague noted, “Tony seems to know everybody and yet is almost never the
one getting the attention.” To those who know Tony, this is hardly surprising.
His interest is always in getting the job done, never in taking credit. He is a
classic public servant who understands how to support elected officials and
their political appointees and to earn their trust. For more than 30 years he
has been a trusted source of accurate information and honest advice.

It would be unfair to give Tony all the credit for his
career success, because that would overlook the great support he has received
from Heidi, his wife of forty years – I know how long, because we share our
wedding anniversary dates. In recent years their roles have changed due to
illness, and their relationship through this transition has been an inspiring
example to the rest of us. As in everything else, Tony adjusts to whatever life
hands him and uses his organizational skills to structure his life so what
needs to be done gets done. In some sort of care-giving jujitsu, he uses the
situation to broaden the experiences that both he and Heidi have. And should I
mention that he is also responsible for the care of his mother, who is a
centenarian, living in a residential facility in Olympia?

I could go on at length about Tony’s role in fostering
recreational bicycling in Olympia, playing many kinds of sports, following
professional sports, reading nearly a book a day, keeping up with movies and
classical archaeology (his college major), playing bridge, and making bad puns.
Instead I will just mention that in addition to all of his other attributes, he
has been a great and loyal friend to me and others whom he and Heidi have known
for decades. I know that Tony will be missed in government circles, but I also
know that he will continue to make Olympia and the broader community a better
place to live and work.

Howard Schwartz worked
at the Washington State Energy Office from 1989 until his retirement in 2013.

(PORTLAND, OR) – Last
week, the Bonneville Power Administration signed an agreement with the States
of Oregon and Washington and the Nez Perce Tribe to temporarily halt years of
litigation around a regional salmon protection plan. The agreement is for three years and is
intended to provide more water for migrating fish while not increasing costs to
regional power customers. Details of the
agreement have only recently been made public, and much of it still needs technical
modeling and state-run processes to ensure its feasibility and adherence to
stated goals.

“Public power customers recognize the goal and potential
benefits of moving beyond the courtroom by agreeing on actions for ESA-listed
salmon that are conducted in an economical manner,” said Scott Corwin,
Executive Director of the Public Power Council.“Yet, until there is greater clarity around the operations and costs of
the agreement, we cannot be certain it provides the intended benefits to fish
or to electric utility ratepayers.The
parties will need to ensure that implementation of this outline provides all
the expected benefits without further risk to electricity consumers or to
protected fish.”

(PORTLAND, OR) -- Federal, State and
Tribal partners have come together to develop an agreement on a key component
of operating federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. Parties to the agreement
have aligned on a flexible spring spill operation premised on achieving
improved salmon survival while also managing costs in hydropower generation.
Key supporters of the agreement are jointly issuing this statement:

“Collaboration is key to this new
approach to Columbia River system management. Working together, the region’s
states, tribes, and federal agencies have developed an approach that
demonstrates environmental stewardship and affordable sustainable energy are not
mutually exclusive.”

The agreement Parties are the states of
Oregon and Washington, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Bonneville Power
Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. In
addition, the states of Idaho and Montana reviewed the agreement and are
supportive of the flexible operation.

The agreement covers up to three years
of fish passage spill operations at eight lower Columbia and Snake River dams.
During this time, the agreement avoids litigation while the co-lead agencies
complete the Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement
Records of Decision.

The agreement calls for flexible spill
operations that meet three objectives: provide additional fish benefits by
increasing spill; manage power system costs and preserve hydro system
flexibility; and retain operational feasibility. Specifically, these operations
involve increased spill during certain times of the day for fish migration and
lesser amounts for the hours when hydropower production is needed most.

The parties have agreed to engage in a
transparent and collaborative manner to implement this agreement. This
agreement is an important step forward for the parties and the region. Rather
than focusing on our differences, we are working together on our shared
objectives of improving salmon passage and providing affordable hydropower for
the region’s electricity consumers.

(PORTLAND, OR) -- PNGC Power appreciates the recent
collaborative efforts of the States of Oregon and Washington, the Nez Perce
Tribe, and the federal action agencies to get out of the courtroom and design
an operational solution for spring and summer river operations that could be
good for both salmon and the multiple users of the river system.

This
is potentially a step in the right direction, but ideally the settlement would
include the States of Idaho and Montana, as well as other parties of the
endless litigation. In part, because a partial settlement may not be a lasting
settlement.

Additionally,
given the lack of a public process, PNGC will need more information before
making a judgement on:

(PORTLAND, OR) – Northwest RiverPartners appreciates the
spirit of collaboration between states, tribes and federal agencies that has
led to this short-term agreement around operations of the federal hydropower
system. We are encouraged that this agreement intends to put a temporary halt
to the ongoing litigation that for so long has ill-served our region.

At the same time, we are concerned about the unprecedented
and scientifically unproven levels of new spill being contemplated by the
agreement – particularly in 2020 and 2021. Further, many details remain
unclear, making it difficult to determine whether goals of the agreement will
materialize. We are also concerned with the potential adverse effects on carbon
emission reduction goals that appear to have not been adequately analyzed.

In 2020 and 2021 the agreement considers levels of spill
that are not supported by current science or allowed under existing state water
quality standards.The agreement
proposes operating the federal dams during some spring hours of each day at higher
levels of spill while also providing lower levels of spill during other periods
of the day when power is more valuable. Spill can be a useful tool to aid
salmon in migrating downstream; however, too much spill can cause gas bubble
trauma in fish, which can harm or even kill them.

This is why NWRP has called on the Washington Department of
Ecology to conduct a rigorous science review before granting any waiver to the
existing water quality standards.The
Department established these standards explicitly to protect salmon and other
aquatic species. Given this, the possible adverse effects of increased spill on
endangered salmon and other aquatic species should not be ignored simply to
avoid future litigation. There also needs to be rigorous monitoring and
accountability for this new proposed operation with mechanisms in place to
reduce spill levels if they begin to negatively affect fish survival.

Public utilities are responsible for providing reliable,
affordable carbon free energy to their customers and have been supportive of
the federal agencies’ management plans for the federal hydropower system. The
public power community understands and can appreciate the goals of the
agreement but needs more information to ensure those goals can be realized and
to better understand the costs, benefits and risks of the agreement to
customers, salmon and the Northwest’s environment.

BPA states it will continue to work collaboratively with the
parties to the agreement to refine the analysis and determine final spring
spill operations, particularly in 2020 and 2021 when higher levels of spill may
be pursued.

Given the significance of this complex agreement, in the
coming days and months, we look forward to gaining a better understanding of it
– including an understanding of the full suite of benefits and risks to
Northwest ratepayers and the multi-purpose users of the river system. We look
forward to working closely with the federal agencies, the states, and regional
stakeholders to ensure that this agreement is implemented in a manner that
maximizes the value of our region’s carbon free hydropower resource, protects
ratepayers, and protects ESA listed salmon species.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Rick Perry discussed an upcoming
announcement on Thursday that the Energy Department and an outside institution
will be launching cyber war games focused on defending the grid and infrastructure
from hackers.

The Cyber Defense Competition will work with national labs
on setting up a red team versus blue team scenario where “one group will be
attacking infrastructure and the other will be defending against it,” Perry
said Thursday at a forum hosted by the Consumer Energy Alliance.

The red team/blue team competition “breeds excellence” at a
time when real threats face the U.S. on the cybersecurity front.

He said he just got done shooting a video with the outside
participants in the exercise, and that the competition will be announced soon.

Cyber defense is bipartisan: Perry said the issuing of
defending infrastructure from attack extends across both aisles. “Efforts in
this area is truly bipartisan,” he said. It is “tantamount to the future of
this country” that all sides come together, he continued.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

(Washington, DC) – Sen. Maria Cantwell told reporters Monday
she's undecided on whether she'll leave her spot as top Democrat on the Energy
Committee for the Commerce Committee. "Both committees have lots of great
things to work on," Cantwell said. "We're still talking to the
leadership about everything."

Manchin interested: Manchin, who has a plausible path to the
ranking member spot on the Energy Committee depending on how things shake out,
didn't deny his interest. "I'm ready, willing and able. I can tell you
that," he said. "There's got to be a balanced approach about how we
maintain energy independence." Remember ME told you last week that Sen.
Debbie Stabenow will face pressure to switch to the Energy slot as Manchin
would likely face vocal opposition from environmental groups.

The Longview Daily News says the review released Tuesday by
the Port of Kalama and Cowlitz County concludes the plant, which would produce
methanol from natural gas, would displace dirtier coal-based methanol sources
in China and result in net reductions in carbon emissions. Environmentalists
called the report flawed. They say it underestimates methane associated with
the project from hydraulic fracturing and makes speculative assumptions about
global markets.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

(CHEHALIS, WA) – The Washington State Department of
Transportation, local leaders, and members of the business community will
celebrate the completion of the new Interstate 5 Chamber Way overpass in
Chehalis with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon. The ceremony will
be at 2 PM in the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce parking lot and the
public is invited to attend. Tamara Greenwell with the Department of
Transportation says the new overpass is wider and taller with more highway
clearance than the overpass it replaces and has improved sidewalks.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

(Tri-Cities, WA) Deadlines have been set for a popular
Washington renewable-energy incentive program that is nearing the maximum
funding level and is expected to meet the incentive limit by June 2019.Although funds may be exhausted at any time,
Washington State University has notified utilities that customers installing
residential scale solar projects have until February 14, 2019 to apply for the
State Incentive Program.After that
date, customers will be put on a waitlist and applications will only be
processed if funds are available.This
is due to the overall program nearing the state funding limit of $110 million,
not each utility’s specific funding limit.As of Oct. 17, 2018, around $95 million of the funds had been reserved
either through application reviews already underway, existing contracts, or
project certification or precertification.However, there is a strong possibility that funds will be exhausted
before the Washington State February 14th deadline.

Smaller projects, with capacities up to 12 kW (residential
scale) or greater than 12 kW (commercial scale), must be installed and pass a
final electrical inspection by Jan. 31, 2019, and then apply for incentive
payments by Feb. 14, 2019. Application submittals or inspections after these
dates will be placed on a waitlist and processed only if funds are available.

The two separate procedures and deadlines were established
by Washington State University’s Energy Program, which administers the
incentive program, to fairly allocate the remaining funding among the project
categories.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

(Olympia, WA) – One week from today voters in Washington
state will decide on a ballot measure that could make their state the first in
the nation to require polluters to pay a fee on carbon pollution. But before
voters head to the polls, a showdown is unfolding between grass-root
environmental activists — who have the backing of billionaires like Bill Gates
and Michael Bloomberg — and the oil and gas industry that has raised about
twice as much to defeat the ballot initiative known as I-1631.

The fee would start at $15 per ton of carbon dioxide in 2020
and increase by $2 per year — plus inflation — until 2035. Seventy percent of
the funds raised under the fee would go to pay for "clean air and clean
energy" projects, 25 percent for "clean water and forest"
projects and 5 percent would help communities adapt to climate change impacts,
Pro's Anthony Adragna reports, with estimates suggesting I-1631 could generate
$2.3 billion over the first five fiscal years.

Backers of the ballot measure have raised $15.2 million with
the help of big-name donors like Gates and Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell
Jobs, Anthony reports. But they are facing an opposition campaign that has
raised nearly $30 million almost entirely from oil and gas companies, including
BP America, Phillips 66 and Koch Industries. Opponents say they worry the funds
raised by the carbon fee would not be spent effectively but could increase
costs for low-income consumers.

One statewide poll from this month put the ballot initiative
on course to pass with support of 50 percent of voters versus 36 percent
opposed. "We believe strongly that the policy is built to reduce emissions
and be effective and that it covers the economy-wide emissions in a reasonable
and effective approach," Mike Stevens, state director for the Nature
Conservancy, said in an interview. "This is a carefully constructed policy
that very carefully evaluated the issues of exemptions and public oversight."

Monday, October 29, 2018

(Washington, DC) – State ecologists on the West Coast say
there is a new ‘season,’ akin to wildfire season: The time of year in which
falling oxygen levels on the seafloor kill off commercial fishermen’s catches.

"We can now say that Oregon has a hypoxia season much
like the wildfire season," Francis Chan, co-chair of a California task
force tracking the growing problem known as hypoxia, told NPR on Sunday.

It’s become a regular danger: "Every summer we live on
the knife's edge and during many years we cross the threshold into danger –
including the past two years," Chan said. "When oxygen levels get low
enough, many marine organisms who are place-bound, or cannot move away rapidly
enough, die of oxygen starvation."

The presence of warmer water off the U.S. Pacific Coast,
attributable to global warming, is causing oxygen levels on the seafloor to
disappear, killing off the crabs and other sea creatures that commercial
fishermen rely on.

Feds still plugging away on climate under Trump: The Commerce
Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is funding
research to help policymakers understand the problem amid rising global
temperatures, according to its website.

“Changes in both global and regional climates have the
potential to make coastal and marine ecosystems even more vulnerable to hypoxic
conditions,” says the agency. NOAA's coastal climate change program is
conducting interdisciplinary research to understand the relationship between
ecosystem function and climate change, it says.

Monday, October 15, 2018

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The U-S Senate skipped town Thursday
until after the election — leaving FERC nominee Bernard McNamee to wait for his
turn before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. McNamee, the Energy
Department's policy chief, had been scheduled to testify at his confirmation
hearing on Tuesday, less than two weeks after President Donald Trump tapped him
for the fifth FERC seat. Democrats and consumer watchdogs balked at the speedy
timeline for McNamee, a controversial pick thanks to his involvement in the administration's
efforts to prop up lagging coal and nuclear power plants. But that hearing is
likely to be rescheduled for some time in November now that senators are back
to the campaign trail.

McNamee had been scheduled to share the witness table with
Rita Baranwal, Trump's pick to lead DOE's nuclear energy office, and National
Park Service director nominee Raymond David Vela. Committee aides did not
respond to requests for comment Thursday night. It remains to be seen whether
this delay prevents McNamee from being confirmed this year, as Republicans
would like to see.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Shortly after a bitterly divided Senate
confirmed Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell scheduled
a vote today at 5:30 p.m. for a broad water resources infrastructure package S. 3021 (115) . The
bill, America's Water Infrastructure Act, would authorize a slate of new Army
Corps of Engineers port, levee and ecosystem restoration projects, and
reauthorizes the Safe Drinking Water Act for the first time in two decades.
Look for the measure, which passed the House by
voice vote, to attract northwards of 85 votes. The leaders of the Environment
and Public Works Committee — Sens. John Barrasso and Tom Carper — told
ME last week to expect about a day of debate before a final vote.

McConnell also filed cloture on
the nomination of Jeffrey Bossert Clark to be assistant attorney general in
charge of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.
That move sets up a likely vote on that nomination later this week. The
administration first tapped Clark for the role in June 2017 and a coalition of
industry groups urged his confirmation back
in June.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

(WASHINGTON,
DC) -- President Donald Trump intends to nominate Bernard McNamee, the head of
the Energy Department's policy office, to take over Rob Powerlson's seat at
FERC, the White House announced Wednesday. McNamee played a crucial role in
devising last year's proposed rule to bail out coal and nuclear plants struggling
in the nation's power markets, which FERC shot down in January. If confirmed,
he would also have a crucial vote on whatever DOE puts forward next. FERC
Chairman Kevin McIntyre welcomed McNamee's nomination, which would return the
commission to full strength. "He is eminently qualified for the job, and I
look forward to serving with him," McIntyre wrote on Twitter.

Industry is jittery: In principle, FERC's regulated
industries prefer a full slate of commissioners to keep the business of the
agency moving, but natural gas, renewable, and some electric power groups have
spent months battling the Trump administration's attempts to intervene on
behalf of coal and nuclear. "The industry is more than well aware of
Bernard McNamee's rumored ties to helping craft the Department of Energy's
NOPR, which FERC rejected last year," said one industry source opposed to
the bailout. "We look forward to his confirmation hearing to learn more on
his views on the role of competitive markets in supporting a level-playing
field, and expect members of the Senate Energy Committee to make this a central
point in confirming his nomination." Dena Wiggins, who leads the Natural
Gas Supply Association, said her industry is "keenly interested in seeing
FERC continue its work to support competitive markets as well provide a timely
and thorough review of proposed pipeline projects."

Green groups concerned: Both Sierra Club and the
Natural Resources Defense Council were out with negative reviews of McNamee's
nomination. "FERC has a longstanding commitment to fuel-neutral
regulation, but Mr. McNamee's past writings and career track record suggest
that he would seek every opportunity possible to support fossil fuels,"
John Moore, director of the Sustainable FERC Project housed within NRDC, said
in a statement. "He even went so far as to state in an op-ed (The Hill)
that fossil fuels 'dramatically improve' the human condition."

Start the clock: Once the White House
officially sends McNamee's paperwork to the Senate, the Energy and Natural
Resources Committee can schedule his nomination hearing. The math on the
committee works in his favor — there's no obvious reason for Republicans to
oppose him, and Sen. Joe Manchin is likely to vote for him too. But, for the
moment, McNamee is riding solo when FERC picks typically move in bipartisan
packages, leaving the timing around his confirmation uncertain. Democratic
Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur's term ends next year, so the White House could
roll out a new Democratic nominee (or renominate LaFleur herself) for that
spot. Otherwise, McNamee may be waiting a while before he takes his seat at
FERC. Oh, and there's an election in a few weeks that could throw a wrench into
things, too.

(PORTLAND, OR) – The
Bonneville Power Administration paid its 35th consecutive U.S. Treasury payment
today. This year’s $862 million payment brings BPA’s cumulative payments to the
Treasury during those 35 years to over $29.8 billion.

“This is a significant
milestone that demonstrates BPA’s ability to meet all of its financial
obligations on an ongoing basis, regardless of changing conditions and
markets,” said Michelle Manary, BPA executive vice president and chief
financial officer. “It’s also important because it provides a full and timely
payment for the benefit of U.S. taxpayers.”

The Treasury payment is
significant because it’s BPA’s lowest priority payment and is made only after
all other financial obligations are paid in the fiscal year. BPA sets its rates
to maintain an annual 97.5 percent probability of making this payment.

This year’s payment includes
$569 million in principal, $226 million in interest and $27 million for
irrigation assistance, which BPA provides to help irrigators repay their share
of certain Reclamation projects.

BPA applied $93 million of
credits toward this year’s Treasury payment. BPA received most of this credit
under a section of the Northwest Power Act as reimbursement for the non-power
share of fish and wildlife costs it pays annually.

In addition to the U.S.
Treasury payment, BPA paid operations and maintenance expenses for the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service projects directly funded by BPA. This direct funding amounted to $421
million in fiscal year 2018.

BPA is a self-financed power
marketing administration that receives no annual appropriation funding from
Congress. Instead, BPA primarily recovers its costs through revenues from the
sale of electric power and transmission services.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

(HILLSBORO, OR) -- A focus on community journalism and other
highly relevant content results in exceptionally engaged print readers, an
independent survey of Ruralite Services’ readership says. Results of a 2018
readership survey conducted by GfK MRI confirm that readers of Ruralite
magazine’s three labels—Ruralite, Currents and Florida Currents—continue to
both read and enjoy the monthly publications at rarely seen levels.

More than 84 percent of Ruralite publication readers are
highly engaged and spend an average of 30 minutes each month reading stories
about neighbors, local businesses and the energy industry. The time spent
reading and other engagement metrics were well above those for the most highly
rated magazine titles in the country, GfK MRI said.

“The numbers tell a great story,” says Ruralite CEO, Michael
Shepard. “Defying all the rumors of print’s decline, our magazines are actually
as popular as ever with the readers we serve. Survey results also indicate that
while print remains strong, digital is gaining strength.”

The survey was designed to profile readers of Ruralite,
Currents and Florida Currents magazines by looking closely at lifestyle data,
demographic characteristics and measure use of consumer products and services.
Ruralite Services’ editorial team will use the survey results to guide a
long-anticipated redesign and new content refresh of all three magazines.

“Our challenge will be to take a good thing and make it even
better,” said Ruralite Publications Editor Leon Espinoza. “Readers, for
instance, expressed high interest in gardening and organic foods. Our job, how
do we tap those passions and put them on the printed page.

“One neat find is that views about the quality hold strongly
across states and regions, from the far reaches of Alaska to the Florida Keys.
Based on the data, Florida Currents readers like what they are seeing just as
much as readers of Ruralite and Currents magazines.”

Ruralite Services distributes 440,000 magazines for public
power utilities and associations across nine states, reaching over a million
readers each month. A four-page questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of
Ruralite readers starting in April 2018. A total of 539 completed surveys were
tabulated to form the results.

“In today’s extraordinarily time-pressured environment, the
decision to engage with a print magazine is a definitive choice in terms of how
a reader wants to invest their time,” according to Head of Custom Research Paul
Sammon with GfK MRI.“Two elements particularly
stood out in the results: time spent reading and reader loyalty.A Ruralite publications reader’s choice to
sit and enjoy the magazine for a full 30 minutes is a testament to engaging
content.That a full 77 percent of all
magazine readers read each and every issue is a testament to their powerful
bond with the magazine."

“The survey shows our magazines offer a unique opportunity
to keep connecting with readers,” says Espinoza. “There is so much to tap, from
lifestyle and new technology content to focusing on locally grown food and
associated recipes.”

From a demographic perspective, Ruralite publication readers
typically are well-educated, are pet owners, own their own home, and are active
home improvers and remodelers.

A considerable majority of readers agree the magazine(s)
contain relevant information, articles are informative, and the content can
easily be shared with others.

##

About Ruralite
Services

Ruralite
Services is a full-service communications cooperative serving electric
utilities across the U.S. Since 1954 we have been a trusted solutions
partner—now in 20 states—we offer customizable printed and digital magazines,
and much more. From building websites and providing social media support to
offering design, print and delivery of special reports, calendars, directories,
bill inserts, ballots and posters. For us, success is when your member
customers give your cooperative or utility all the credit for materials we
helped create.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Conference negotiators unveiled
details of a final deal reached for the first "minibus" package, H.R.
5895 (115) that will come up for a vote later this week. The three-bill
package that includes the Energy-Water title is expected to easily clear both
chambers and reach the president's desk before the Sept. 30 deadline, Pro's
Sarah Ferris reports
. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the measure when they return Wednesday,
although Hurricane Florence could affect that timing.

So, what's inside the roughly $147 billion measure? Negotiators rejected
some of Trump's cuts and agreed to boost funding for nuclear security efforts
and energy research. The Energy-Water portion of the bill contains $44.6
billion — $1.4 billion above current levels and $8.1 billion above the
president's budget request, Sarah reports. Democrats mostly fought off partisan
policy provisions that House Republicans had put forth, such as allowing
firearms to be used on Army Corps of Engineers lands.

Specifically, Pro's
Annie Snider reports,
negotiators blocked GOP efforts to overturn a court decision requiring hydropower
dams to be operated for the benefit of endangered salmon, but they also denied
immediate funding for green groups' ultimate goal of removing the dams.
Elsewhere in the bill, Congress avoided Trump's call to nix the Advanced
Research Projects Agency-Energy program and instead gave the popular program
$366 million, $12.7 million more than it got fiscal 2018, Pro's Darius Dixon reports
. The bill's conference report does not include funding for the Yucca
Mountain nuclear waste project yet again, which House Republicans have been
pushing. Read the Energy-Water summary
and the one-pager.

The Seattle Times reports Denver-based Alterra Mountain
Company announced plans Thursday to acquire Crystal Mountain Resort, located
about 80 miles southeast of Seattle.The company says the sale is expected to
close in the fourth quarter of this year.

The company currently owns 13 resorts in the U.S. and
Canada. Crystal Mountain is expected to be added to the company’s resort
network for the upcoming ski season.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

(PORTLAND, OR) -- The Bonneville Power Administration has
appointed Michelle Manary as executive vice president and chief financial
officer starting Sept. 30. As CFO, she will oversee the capital and debt
management program, accounting, cash management and budgeting for BPA’s $4.3
billion total budget.

Manary is currently the vice president of Transmission
Marketing and Sales, a position she has held since 2015.

“I am very excited to appoint Michelle as BPA’s next CFO,”
said BPA Administrator Elliot Mainzer. “She is a dynamic, creative and highly
engaged leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Finance
organization. Michelle’s 20 years of experience across BPA’s Power,
Transmission and Corporate organizations will be invaluable as we build on the
momentum we have gained this year in strengthening our financial health.”

Manary started at BPA in 1998 as a financial analyst in
Power Services where she led the development of a spending review, which is
comparable to BPA’s current Integrated Program Review process. She became the
manager of the Power finance group, ensuring spending targets were met for
Power capital and expense. Manary went on to hold additional management
positions in Transmission, Corporate Strategy and Power before landing in her
current role.

“I am looking forward to joining Finance and partnering with
organizations across BPA to dive into the implementation of the agency
strategic and financial plans,” said Manary.

Before coming to BPA, Manary served as CFO at More Housing
USA in Tacoma, Washington. Manary has a bachelor’s degree in finance from
Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, and a master’s degree in business
administration and public administration from Willamette University in Salem,
Oregon.

Acting CFO Mary Hawken, who had announced her intent to retire,
will return to her previous role as the deputy CFO and stay on through December
to help with the transition. Hawken has been a valuable member of the Finance
team for 32 years, working her way up to the top post from her first role as a
student trainee.

“This year we have advanced a lot of commitments outlined in
the financial and strategic plans, and I’m looking forward to working with
Michelle and helping to integrate our strategy into our everyday work before I
leave,” Hawken said. “But I am also looking forward to traveling more and
expanding my volunteer time.”

“I would like to thank Mary Hawken for her tremendous
service as acting CFO and am pleased that Mary and Michelle will be able to
work closely together during the transition,” said Mainzer

Tina Ko, the current acting deputy chief operating officer,
will take over as acting vice president of Transmission Marketing and Sales
until a formal announcement and selection take place.

BPA is a federal agency that markets wholesale electrical
power from 31 federal hydroelectric projects in the Northwest and one
nonfederal nuclear plant providing about 28 percent of the electric power used
in the Northwest. BPA also operates and maintains about three-fourths of the
high-voltage transmission in its service territory, which includes Idaho,
Oregon, Washington, western Montana and small parts of eastern Montana,
California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA also funds regional efforts to
protect and rebuild fish and wildlife populations affected by hydropower
development in the Northwest.

The Alaska Republican said she believes that the next
nominee shouldn't face a litmus test over their view of the Trump
administration's efforts to prop up coal and nuclear power plants, "I
worry that this is going to be viewed as, 'If you don't commit to voting
against or voting for, then you're not going to have my support,'"
Murkowski said. "That's not the way that we should be selecting
commissioners for the FERC."

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

(CENTRALIA, WA) -- More than $4.5 million already has been
raised by supporters and opponents of a proposed carbon fee that the Washington
Secretary of State’s office has certified for the November ballot.

The Seattle Times reports State Public Disclosure Commission
records show proponents have brought in more than $2.7 million as of Monday,
while opponents have raised $1.7 million.

The initiative by the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy
would create an escalating state carbon “fee” on most fossil-fuels emission,
and invest the revenue in clean energy, clean water, forests and other
projects. The ballot measure’s carbon fee would start at $15 a metric ton of
carbon, which would add an estimated 14 cents to the cost of a gallon of
gasoline. The fee would rise annually by $2 per ton of carbon emission, plus
the rate of inflation.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

A festival showcasing all the benefits of the rivers and the
hydrosystem

(Tri-Cities, Washington) Local utilities – Franklin PUD,
Benton PUD, Benton REA and City of Richland Energy Services - have joined
businesses, community organizations and people of all walks of life throughout
the region to host RiverFest 2018.RiverFest 2018, a fun and educational family event, will feature
exhibitors, vendors and entertainment to showcase all the benefits of the
Federal Columbia River Power System and highlight the four lower Snake River
dams including navigation, irrigation, recreation and power.

“RiverFest 2018 will help raise awareness about the overall
hydrosystem, specifically the Snake River dams that are vital to our economy,”
said Colin Hastings, chairman of RiverFest 2018 and CEO of the Pasco Chamber of
Commerce.

RiverFest will be held Saturday, September 8, from 11:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at east end of Columbia Park in Kennewick, Washington.Over the years there has been a continued
movement to have the four Snake River dams removed. At the same time, billions
of dollars have been invested in the dams to mitigate the impacts to fish. This
has increased downstream salmon migration survival rates to 1960 levels, before
the Snake River dams were constructed.

The dams are valuable components of the Northwest’s clean,
carbon-free, low-cost hydropower that thousands of jobs rely upon. Dam removal
would kill jobs, take away clean, renewable power, eliminate river navigation,
impair the environment, and hurt agriculture - and there is no scientific proof
that removing the dams would actually help salmon recovery.

Save the date and plan on attending with your family and
friends.Contact the Pasco Chamber of
Commerce (509) 547-9755 for more information regarding sponsorships, exhibitors,
and vendor opportunities.

(JUNEAU, AK) – Alaska's climate task force wants the
oil-rich state to look into instituting a carbon tax, with revenues directed to
a green bank and to offset some costs to consumers and companies.

The idea is part of a draft action plan posted by the group,
led by Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, ahead of its meeting Thursday. It also suggests
consideration of whether to endorse any national fee and dividend legislation.

The task force said its plan is not a consensus document but
is meant to offer a "suite of options" to inform agency efforts.
Alaska's Republican-controlled Senate is unlikely to approve a carbon tax.

Mallott, a Democrat, and Gov. Bill Walker, who was
previously a Republican and is now independent, ran together on a unity ticket
in 2014; they are up for reelection in a close race this year after Walker
reduced annual oil checks to residents.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

(PASCO, WA) – Franklin PUD stopped processing applications, effective immediately, to provide electric service for those needing high density loads (HDL). At its regularly scheduled Commission meeting on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 the Board of Commissioners unanimously imposed the application moratorium to give staff time to review impacts on utility operations and the impacts of providing future services for HDLs.

High density loads are energy-intensive and place large demands on the electric system. To date, Franklin PUD has not experienced an influx in these types of service requests, and the potential impact to the District’s electric system from servicing HDLs is uncertain at this time. However, because of the energy use required for HDLs, demands on the electric system, safety of the system, and other uncertainties, the Commission adopted the moratorium on accepting any new or altered electric service applications for HDLs, effective immediately. The moratorium will not apply to existing approved applications that have paid all applicable fees.

High density loads have impacts on an electric system that are different from typical residential and commercial customers. Because of this, Franklin PUD must ensure that distribution facilities are adequate to alleviate any potential safety and reliability risk for Franklin PUD and its customers.

By approving the moratorium, this will allow staff time to evaluate a proper rate structure, cost recovery, electric system assessment, safety and reliability impacts, as well as the business stability of HDLs. Franklin PUD staff will bring the findings of this research to a later Commission meeting.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Board members of the Utilities Technology Council are swarming
Capitol Hill today to press an energy issue flying far below the Beltway radar:
the energy needs for radio frequency spectrum. That bandwidth is particularly
crucial during grid outages when crews need to coordinate restoration and is
expected to become an increasingly stressful subject as more wireless smart
meters and sensors are added to the electric grid. The FCC has primary
jurisdiction on how portions of spectrum are doled out, and according to UTC
CEO Joy Ditto, the agency hasn't been sympathetic to the communication needs of
utilities and other power generators.

"They don't really
differentiate between us and
Joe's pizza place down the street," she told ME. "That's not the way
the rest of the government perceives us," she said, given the emphasis the
White House and the departments of Energy and Homeland Security have put on
protecting critical infrastructure like the electric grid. "Yet, when it
comes to this crucial component of our communications systems, we're not
treated any differently than anyone else." Federal utilities like the
Energy Department's power marketing administrations and the Tennessee Valley
Authority are given some priority.

One of the industry's big
concerns isn't so much that wireless
interference will trigger an emergency so much as it could make some of those
fancy sensors designed to keep the system operating reliably from sending data
at critical times. "You're lacking situational awareness, so if you're lacking
something on your system you may not see it," she said. So, during the
30-40 meetings the trade group has lined up with congressional offices, their
critical request is that FERC and the FCC talk more often, pursue a memorandum
of understanding between the two regulators, and perhaps set up joint technical
conferences, Ditto said.

According to the Lewis County 911 Center, the first 911 call
came in at 5:36 AM reporting an incident at Mossyrock Dam and a person
suffering fractures. The Chronicle reports at 5:50 AM the Lewis County Tactical
Rescue Team was dispatched to the site. The Chehalis Fire Department is the
lead agency for the team.

Chehalis Fire Chief Ken Cardinale reported team members used
a rope rescue system to rescue the victim, who reportedly had multiple broken
bones.

Friday, July 13, 2018

(TONOPAH,
NV) – GOPRep. John Shimkus will
educate another dozen lawmakers on the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste
repository this weekend via a field trip to the Nevada site. He told ME
"the purpose of the visit is to walk the grounds and get an appreciation
of the site" and that most of the lawmakers coming along have never been.
Shimkus said he expected Mark Menezes, undersecretary of Energy, to participate
along with other DOE officials.

Shimkus invited two Nevada Democrats —
Reps. Jacky Rosen and Dina Titus — to
participate in the visit after another, Rep. Ruben Kihuen, was unable
to make his schedule work. "Unfortunately, his schedule will no longer
enable him to tour the facility located in his congressional district,"
Shimkus wrote in a letter to Titus.
She told ME in a statement that she has visited the site before. Rosen slammed
Shimkus' visit as "an obvious political stunt" and vowed not to
participate. "I am not interested in giving legitimacy to his
taxpayer-funded junket," Rosen said in a statement to ME. Kihuen's office
did not respond to a request for comment.

A local group opposed to the project, the
Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force, wanted to attend but Shimkus said "logistical issues"
prevent its participation.

The approps fight: Shimkus
said he expects the issue to be a live one as the House and Senate work out
differences between their versions of the "minibus" that includes the
energy and water title. The House's bill included $267.7 million for the
project, while the Senate's didn't offer a penny. But Shimkus said House
Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen and
Rep. Mike Simpson, who leads
the subcommittee responsible for the title, would fight for the Yucca funding.
"They're supportive of our mark," Shimkus said.

Simpson added there was "nothing sinister" in the postponement of the
conference committee's first scheduled meeting on the minibus Thursday and said
that wrapping up negotiations by August is still "our goal."
"But it doesn't have to be before August. Obviously, we have until Oct. 1.
We'd like to get it done as soon as possible, but there are some issues in all
parts of it," he said. More on the battle over Veterans funding that
spurred the 11th-hour postponement here.

The House passed the Strengthening Fishing Communities and
Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act by a 222-193 vote.

Eliminates ‘unscientific’ conservation limits: The bill
would open up U.S. coastal waters to more fishing by reducing "unscientific"
conservation limits and quotas on the amount of fish caught annually.

The bill "eliminates unscientific timeframes to rebuild
fish stocks," which "unnecessarily restrict access to
fisheries," according to a summary of the bill.

Reauthorizes the fisheries law: The bill introduced by Rep.
Don Young, R-Alaska, reauthorizes, while modernizing, the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
which is the primary law governing marine fisheries management in U.S. federal
waters.

The bill provides greater regional flexibility, tailored
management practices, and improved data collection for all U.S. federal
fisheries off the coasts of most ocean-adjoining states.

Friday, July 6, 2018

(VANCOUVER, WA) – The
Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) Board of Trustees has named Scott
Egbert of Wells Rural Electric Association (Wells, Nev.) as the 2018-2019 NWPPA
Board of Trustees president; Egbert will succeed Idaho Falls Power’s Jackie
Flowers, who accepted the position of director of utilities at Tacoma
Utilities. Egbert’s term as board president begins on July 21.

The board also announced the
following officers:

First Vice President Ron
Holmes of Wasco Electric Cooperative (The Dalles, Ore.)

About NWPPA: The Northwest Public Power Association is an
international association representing and serving over 150 customer-owned,
locally controlled utilities in the Western U.S. and Canada. The Association
also serves approximately 300 associate members across the U.S. and Canada who
are allied with the electric utility industry. For more information, visit: www.nwppa.org, www.facebook.com/NWPPAssoc, or www.Twitter.com/NWPPAssoc.

Monday, July 2, 2018

(HELENA, MT) – Governor Steve
Bullock and the Bonneville Power Administration today released the Montana
Renewables Development Action Plan, which identifies specific actions intended
to promote the further development of renewable energy projects in Montana and
improve the ability of West Coast markets to access that energy.

“We brought together
stakeholders from diverse interests to seek common understanding on very
complex issues – and to find solutions that work,” said Governor Bullock. “With
this effort, we’re boosting the opportunities for more energy development in
Montana and making Montana wind more attractive for West Coast buyers, all to
create good-paying jobs and economic opportunity for Montanans.”

The report supports the
conclusion that Montana has an opportunity to play a significant role in energy
markets by growing its renewable resource base. The state currently has more
than 700 megawatts of installed wind capacity, with the potential to develop
significantly more wind resources. Even more encouraging is the report’s
finding that there is existing capacity to transmit that power to the
Northwest.

“It was a pleasure to work
with Governor Bullock and many other partners from across the region during
this process,” said Elliot Mainzer, BPA Administrator. “Through collaboration,
hard work and a little bit of active listening, we identified existing
short-term opportunities and some longer-term priorities that should enable the
additional development of renewable energy in Montana to complement existing
hydropower and other renewable generation across the Pacific Northwest. I am
excited and committed to working with the other participants in this process to
deliver on the plan's recommendations.”

Efforts to compile the report
began several months ago when Mainzer and Bullock invited a diverse group of
stakeholders to take a collaborative look at renewable energy challenges and
opportunities in Montana. The group, which included public and private
utilities, regulators, advocates, and renewable resource developers, focused
their efforts on producing a sustainable long-term strategy to develop new
renewable energy resources in Montana. The work addressed issues including
commercial needs, policies, planning and operational issues. This inclusive
approach to collaboration and problem-solving allowed the group to identify
solutions that satisfy the region’s needs.

“We’ve always known that
Montana had the most energetic wind resource in the region. This collaborative
process reveals that existing transmission — with modest investments — can
deliver considerable amounts of renewable energy to West Coast utilities,” said
Rachel Shimshak, executive director of Renewable Northwest and a member of the
Task Force Steering Committee. “This is great news for customers, the
environment, and Montana’s rural economic vitality. Washington and Oregon
utilities should be confident that they can cost-effectively deliver Montana
wind to their customers."

The Action Plan identifies 18
actions that, if taken, would remove barriers to the development and export of
Montana renewable resources. Highlighted actions include:

Broad recognition
and agreement that the Colstrip transmission network is not only important to
local Northwestern Energy needs, but vital to future renewable energy
development in Eastern Montana. The Colstrip owners and BPA have committed to
reviewing the agreements that govern the delivery of Colstrip power and to look
at modernizing them to address today’s energy challenges and opportunities.

There is a
considerable amount of transmission capacity available now to move renewable
energy out of Montana, and over time and with a few relatively cost-effective
actions, that available capacity is expected to grow significantly as Colstrip
units 1 and 2 retire.

Many believed
that technical limitations of the transmission system would significantly limit
the opportunity for Montana renewables to move to west coast markets. The
report and underlying analyses shows that these concerns are not significant
barriers.

BPA has committed to track
progress on the action items and file progress reports with committee members
and interested parties.

The Action Plan marks another
step in Governor Bullock’s Energy Blueprint to determine the state’s energy
future through a balanced and responsible plan with all sectors of the energy
industry. Through the blueprint, Governor Bullock has committed to working with
the Colstrip community to ensure they remain a viable part of the energy
future, in addition to developing potential for wind and solar power and
harnessing new technology for carbon capture. Since the release of the
blueprint in 2016, Montana has quadrupled its solar production.

The Montana Renewables
Development Action Plan can be found here: www.bpa.gov/goto/MontanaRenewablesDevelopmentActionPlan

(IDAHO FALLS, ID) -- The
Idaho Falls City Council voted unanimously to appoint Bear Prairie as the new
General Manager of Idaho Falls Power during the June 28th city council meeting.

Prairie has worked for Idaho Falls Power since 2010 where he
has served as the Assistant General Manager. With more than 20 years of
experience in the energy industry, Prairie started his career in energy at the
Idaho Power Company in Boise.He has
extensive experience and expertise in commodity trading and management of a broad
range of energy products.

“As I examined the range available options for filling the
vacancy, a few things quickly became clear to me,” said Mayor Rebecca
Casper.“First and perhaps foremost, in
his role as Assistant General Manager for IFP, Mr. Prairie has been
professionally prepared to step in and lead the utility. He is eminently
qualified to lead any energy utility in the county and we are very fortunate
that he has chosen to continue his career here with us.”

In his role as Assistant General Manager, Prairie helped
manage the daily operation of Idaho Falls Power’s four hydroelectric dams, 450
miles of distribution lines and service to over 28,000 customers including a fiber
optic communication business.He was
also responsible for the utility’s long rage power supply planning, power
operations, resource development and risk management.

“I am excited for the opportunity to work with City
leadership and the community to continue Idaho Falls Power’s legacy of
delivering reliable and cost effective services to our City,” said
Prairie.“Surrounded by the dedicated
staff that works through all conditions to serve our customers, I see many
bright days ahead.”

With his appointment, Prairie, who will make an annual
salary of $225,000, will take over control of Idaho Falls Power from current
General Manger, Jackie Flowers, who is departing to assume leadership of Tacoma
Public Utilities in Washington.Her last
day with Idaho Falls Power will be July 20, 2018.

“I am humbled to be chosen to fill Jackie’s shoes. She has
provided great leadership to the team and vision to the utility,” Prairie
said.“I plan to continue to listen to
the community, as she did, so we are well positioned to continue delivering
services.”

About Me

Joel Myer works at an electrical utility in Washington State.
Prior to his current employment, he worked for nine years at the City of Shelton as Special Projects Coordinator.
In 1992, Joel served a three-month term as an appointed Mason County Commissioner. As far as it is known, he still holds the record for the shortest term for a county commissioner in Washington State.
From 1991 through 1992 Joel worked with Washington State University Cooperative Extension, where he conducted an extensive study of the special forest products industry and its economic value to the Pacific Northwest.
From 1980 to 1991 he was News Director at KMAS Radio in Shelton.
Joel is a 1991 graduate of the Evergreen State College, where his focus of study was economics.
Joel Myer is one of the 2018 award winners, Foundation for Water & Energy Education Haiku Contest.
He has been teaching himself to play the ukulele (with limited success) since 2003.